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Back
Door Man deserves so much recognition, yet like
so many pioneers, have been pushed aside for Slash and Flipside.
But Back Door Man, originally "for hard core rock 'n' rollers
only," planted the seeds of revolution. The Runaways debuted
in Phast Phreddie's parents' living room in Carson! They covered
all kinds of shows and music, from Patti Smith to Ted Nugent,
from Iggy to Cheap Trick. They went to all the shows, parties
and events and were too cool for words.
Phast Phreddie Patterson, the editor/publisher/writer
and Don Waller are both INCREDIBLE
music archivists and writers, still going strong, writing and
keeping the beat.
Let's have a moment of reflection to give gratitude to them.
Now read on! I'll post more stories, pix and issues soon. I
can't wait to give credit where it is sorely overdue.
Sure, they treated me like shit after I threw a couple of parties
for them, including a costumed Halloween birthday party for
Phred. They wrote the most hurtful column about me. Really immature
and sick. But I deserved it in some ways and most people are
too bloody polite to say or do anything. They got in my face
a lot, but I never shed one tear. I was so needy, so insecure,
and so fucking vulnerable they couldn't help making fun of me.
I understood -- their motto was "the men don't know, but
the little girls understand." I knew they weren't really
hateful like others in my life. They were young and crazy, and
I wouldn't trade my experiences with them for anything. Wow,
do they know music and could they write about it that made the
music come alive and important, unlike most rock writers who
like to make themselves important. Big difference.
It was Phred who asked me for a shot of Martha of the Motels
to run in Back Door Man. I told him he hadn't even seen the
shots yet (I was still shooting at the Starwood). He shrugged
his shoulders and said they'd be fine. And they were and suddenly
I was a published photographer, without knowing what the hell
I was doing.
Thanks Phred! And here's to Don, Gregg Turner, DD Faye,
Audrey Pavia and the rest! |
[77-05
BlondieDMBCvr]
I'm
DAMNED PROUD that I took this Back Door Man cover!!! It's a great shot and what an honor that the fanzine that
turned me onto this scene used my Blondie shot!
Interesting
how many famous shots of NY bands are MINE.
How is it this nice jewish girl from the valley took such
great shots of NY bands, who were endlessly photographed
in their home city? Ha ha ha!!
DD
Faye wanted this for the cover, I called their management,
was told to run it, then accused of running it without
permission (which I DID NOT need). I
doubt if I ever made $100 from this photo back in the day, although people
have repeatedly seen it since 1977. Ah, the glamorous
life of a rock photographer!
This
photo got me banned from ever shooting Blondie again,
yet it garnered world-wide publicity! They got so much
mileage outta this!
Debbie
Harry appeared on magazine covers, both on and off stage,
as a beautiful, powerful woman, wearing clothes that showed her unique beauty and sexuality. This photo only
reinforced the image the band, management and the record
company were promoting.
All
I can say is: Blondie's debut at the Whiskey was memorable,
fun and wonderful! We all danced, entranced with Debbie
dancing around the stage, the tight musicianship and the
clever songs.
Their
first album is still one of my all-time fave recordings. for more, read my Blondie page. I love them, I love Debbie. What's not to love? |
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[77 BackDoorMan6p9]
Phast Phreddie
and a Rhino Records [store] ad!
"Today's
record companies seem to be doing their damndest to keep
real, gut-level Rock 'n' Roll from being recorded and
released on a name level. Even our faves like Kiss, Blue
Oyster Cult and Aerosmith appear tame in comparison to
the likes of the Yardbirds, the Seeds, Chuck Berry or
Little Richard. Most records these days are way over-produced
and come out sounding castrated, especially after seeing
their live shows. For the most part, the only true, uncalculated,
Rock 'n' Roll is made by bands that most people have never
heard of. The only answer, of course, is for these bands
to make their own records.
What I have
here are a bunch of 45s by bands that Dared To Do Their
Own. Each a gem and well worth the extra effort to send
off for these records."
He then discusses
Roky Erickson's "Red Temple Prayer," Television's
"Little Johnny Jewel," stating "this record
also seems to have something to do with mind-altering
drugs, as it is one of the bizzarest tunes I've heard
in a long time. Arthur Lee could have written it . . ."
Also "Ahead of My Time" by the Droogs and "30
Seconds Over Tokyo" from Pere Ubu, comparing it to
"a perverted 'Can't Explain'" [by the Who for
the unitiated], "the Shadows of Knight covering a
Black Sabbath song," Pink Floyd, Red Crayola's "Parable
in Arable Land," and the Chocolate Watchband, and
that's just the first page!
The Rhino ad
states they are "the Disneyland of Record Stores."
Can you imagine anyone printing that these days and not
getting sued by the Mouse?
Also, do you
read record reviews? How many of them actually refer to
other songs and bands as varied as Phred's references?
This guy knows music -- lives and breathes it. Same with
Don Waller. They are the best!
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